Germany leads digital charge: App‑based licences from 2025
Starting April 2025, drivers in Germany will not need to carry a physical driving licence. Instead, a digital version of the document available in a smartphone app will suffice. These changes are part of a new law introduced by the German Ministry of Digitalisation and Transport.
The German Ministry of Digitalisation and Transport is introducing an amendment allowing drivers to drive without a physical licence. From April, a digital version of the document available in a dedicated smartphone app will be sufficient. According to the German service Inside Digital, these changes aim to make life more convenient for drivers and are part of a broader digitalisation of documents.
Pilot programme for 2,500 people in March
In March, 2,500 people participated in a pilot test of the new system. The test aims to verify the practical functioning of the digital driving licence. The ministry emphasises that the limited number of participants allows for a thorough analysis of user feedback and the quick implementation of improvements.
Although the European Union plans to transition to full digital driving licences in the future, drivers can still apply for a card version. It is worth noting, however, that a digital driving licence may prove insufficient if a phone runs out of battery, so it's advisable to carry a power bank.
The end of plastic documents in the EU?
The European Digital Identity (EUDI) is a new system revolutionising our data management. With it, EU citizens can use a digital wallet on their phones, eliminating the need for plastic documents.
Before EUDI is implemented across the Union, the system is tested in four pilot projects. Launched on 1 April 2023, the projects involve over 250 companies and institutions from 25 EU countries, Norway, Iceland, and Ukraine. The goal is to test digital identity wallets in various sectors.
The European Commission indicates that current digital identification systems have many shortcomings. EUDI aims to eliminate these by offering access to services across the EU. The system is expected to become widely operational no earlier than 2026.
